"Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
. . .
Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep."
Luke 6:21, 25
These verses, taken together, are interesting. The chapter has more interesting juxtapositions, but I liked this one because the comparison of weeping and laughter. In one way, it is warning us perhaps about the human condition. That we need to be careful of becoming overconfident or complacent about good fortune--or too despairing about bad fortune--because things are cyclical, and bad and good will come to us all.
In another way, maybe it is talking about our priorities. Maybe we need to be willing to suffer in order to learn laughter. Perhaps we need to be able to be open and vulnerable and willing to experience sorrow in order to learn love and service and happiness.
It's an interesting way to think of the concepts, but when we compare the Lord's strategy here to our usual strategy, which is usually hunger-->obtain food and sorrow-->watch a comedy (okay, perhaps that is an oversimplification, but the point is that we go straight for the payoff). Maybe what God is asking us to think about here is that breadth of experience, and having an open mind and heart will serve us much better than single-mindedly trying to satisfy one need. I know: well-rounded education. Who knew God was a fan. But I think he is. :)
Today, let's think about what we face each day, and make sure that we are going to be okay (and that we can stick with God) no matter what comes. Hunger and sorrow shouldn't be able to tear us away from our God who will bring us fullness and joy. By the same token, satisfaction and happiness should not lure us into forgetting our God, or our great need for him.
. . .
Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep."
Luke 6:21, 25
These verses, taken together, are interesting. The chapter has more interesting juxtapositions, but I liked this one because the comparison of weeping and laughter. In one way, it is warning us perhaps about the human condition. That we need to be careful of becoming overconfident or complacent about good fortune--or too despairing about bad fortune--because things are cyclical, and bad and good will come to us all.
In another way, maybe it is talking about our priorities. Maybe we need to be willing to suffer in order to learn laughter. Perhaps we need to be able to be open and vulnerable and willing to experience sorrow in order to learn love and service and happiness.
It's an interesting way to think of the concepts, but when we compare the Lord's strategy here to our usual strategy, which is usually hunger-->obtain food and sorrow-->watch a comedy (okay, perhaps that is an oversimplification, but the point is that we go straight for the payoff). Maybe what God is asking us to think about here is that breadth of experience, and having an open mind and heart will serve us much better than single-mindedly trying to satisfy one need. I know: well-rounded education. Who knew God was a fan. But I think he is. :)
Today, let's think about what we face each day, and make sure that we are going to be okay (and that we can stick with God) no matter what comes. Hunger and sorrow shouldn't be able to tear us away from our God who will bring us fullness and joy. By the same token, satisfaction and happiness should not lure us into forgetting our God, or our great need for him.
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